NFL Waiver Wire Alert: The Players You Need to Pick Up Before Your League Figures It Out

Week 9 Fantasy Football | Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Injuries, benchings, breakout performances, changing depth charts and DFS value

The fantasy season has hit the stretch where one smart waiver claim can change the direction of your whole year. Injuries are piling up, starting jobs are getting shaky, and players who weren't on anybody's radar a month ago are suddenly startable.

Week 8 gave us plenty to work with: a breakout from a Jets receiver, a quarterback change in Arizona, a full-blown quarterback emergency in Baltimore, and a Colts team that got blown out 42-7. Let's get into who to add, who to stash and which situations to watch before Week 9 kicks off Thursday night with Jacksonville at Baltimore.

Week 9 byes: Steelers and Titans. Check every status on our NFL injury report and every backfield on our NFL depth charts before your waiver run.

Running Backs: The Biggest Priority This Week

1. Jonah Coleman, Broncos

Priority: MUST ADD

Coleman is the most important pickup of the week. The rookie came off injured reserve (ankle) in Week 7 and ran 9 times for 54 yards. Then in Sunday's 28-24 win over the Chiefs he took on more: 11 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown, plus 4 catches for 63 yards, including a 51-yarder (box score). J.K. Dobbins managed 13 yards on 7 carries, and RJ Harvey is on injured reserve.

Fantasy outlook: Add him in every league where he's available. He carries, he catches and he finds the end zone. That's legitimate RB2 upside the rest of the way.

DFS: His role is growing faster than his price. Week 9: Broncos at Panthers (simulate it | our pick).

2. Mike Washington Jr., Raiders

Priority: MUST ADD

This is the most interesting backfield development of the week. Washington got 25 carries in the 38-33 win over the Jets (box score). Before Sunday, his season high was 9.

Ashton Jeanty got 2 carries. Two. He did catch 3 passes for 64 yards, so he finished with 5 touches. Read that again.

Washington turned his work into 83 yards, only 3.3 per carry, so it wasn't efficient. But that kind of volume is impossible to ignore. Jeanty managers have every reason to be nervous: he had 19 or more carries in each of his first three games and 10 or fewer in each of his last four.

Fantasy outlook: Priority pickup. Even if it turns into a committee, the early-down work is worth chasing.

DFS: Watch his price and ownership. If the Raiders keep feeding him, he's a value play. Week 9: Raiders at 49ers (simulate it | our pick).

3. Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals

Priority: MUST ADD IF AVAILABLE

Allgeier exploded in the 33-30 overtime win in Dallas: 11 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown, including a 63-yard run, plus 5 catches for 44 yards and another score. That's 191 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 16 touches (box score).

And the door is wide open. Jeremiyah Love suffered a new ankle injury and is now on injured reserve, and Bam Knight is questionable.

Fantasy outlook: Grab him now. With Love out for weeks, Allgeier has a real shot at the lead role.

DFS: A potential bargain if Arizona keeps feeding him. Week 9: Cardinals at Seahawks (simulate it | our pick).

4. Dylan Sampson, Browns

Priority: STRONG ADD IN PPR

Sampson has quietly strung together two useful games. In Week 7 at Tennessee he ran 6 times for 45 yards and caught 3 passes for 32. On Sunday in Pittsburgh he caught 6 of 8 targets for 62 yards (box score).

Quinshon Judkins hasn't taken control of the backfield. He ran 11 times for 25 yards on Sunday, which leaves room for Sampson to keep growing.

Fantasy outlook: Best in PPR and deeper leagues.

DFS: A salary-saving flex if the targets keep coming. Week 9: Browns at Saints (simulate it | our pick).

5. Austin Ekeler, Commanders

Priority: DEEP-LEAGUE STASH

Ekeler deserves attention, but let's separate opportunity from production. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is on injured reserve with a groin injury, and Jeremy McNichols is now on injured reserve too.

In the 27-10 win over the Eagles, Ekeler ran 8 times for 36 yards (box score). That's a big jump from his previous game, when he got 1 carry. But Rachaad White led the team with 11 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown.

Fantasy outlook: Worth a stash in deeper leagues. I wouldn't spend big FAAB expecting him to be Washington's lead back.

DFS: Not a play yet. Wait for the workload to show up again. Week 9: Rams at Commanders (simulate it | our pick).

Other Running Backs Worth Watching

• Emmett Johnson, Chiefs: 5 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown in Denver, including a 73-yarder. Excellent handcuff.
• Seth McGowan, Colts: a speculative add in case Jonathan Taylor gets traded before the November 10 deadline. Shane Steichen says Taylor hasn't asked for a trade.
• Rachaad White, Commanders: ahead of Ekeler in the pecking order right now.
• Elijah Mitchell, Eagles: 11 carries against Washington to Saquon Barkley's 13. That's a real share.

Wide Receivers: The Breakouts You Don't Want to Miss

1. Adonai Mitchell, Jets

Priority: MUST ADD

Mitchell, who came over from the Colts in the Sauce Gardner trade, exploded against Las Vegas (box score):

• 7 receptions
• 142 receiving yards, with a long of 47
• 1 touchdown
• 9 targets

That's the kind of game that sends managers sprinting to the waiver wire. He has the tools to be a real NFL receiving threat.

But there's a catch. Garrett Wilson still got 12 targets on Sunday, and rookie Omar Cooper Jr. posted back-to-back 100-yard games in Weeks 6 and 7. Mitchell isn't the undisputed No. 1 overnight.

Fantasy outlook: Add him if he's there. The ceiling is worth it, but consistency is the question.

DFS: A tournament play if his price and ownership stay reasonable. Week 9: Jets at Chiefs (simulate it | our pick).

2. Antonio Williams, Commanders

Priority: STRONG ADD

Terry McLaurin is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon, and Washington needs somebody to step up. Williams is making his case. Against the Eagles he caught 5 of 7 targets for 54 yards.

His yardage has gone up every game since late September: 15, 21, 31, 50 and now 54.

Fantasy outlook: One of my favorite under-the-radar adds this week.

DFS: A value receiver with room to beat his price. Week 9: Rams at Commanders (simulate it | our pick).

3. DeMario Douglas, Patriots

Priority: ADD

Douglas caught 3 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in the 24-19 win in Miami (box score). That's three of his last four games with 16 or more PPR points.

His production relies on big plays, but the recent consistency deserves attention.

Fantasy outlook: Worth adding in PPR and deeper formats. Week 9: Packers at Patriots (simulate it | our pick).

4. Caleb Douglas, Dolphins

Priority: UPSIDE STASH

Douglas has big-play ability. In Week 7 at the Jets he turned 2 catches into 70 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 63-yarder. On Sunday he caught 4 passes for 43 yards.

Fantasy outlook: A worthwhile deeper-league add. Week 9: Lions at Dolphins (simulate it | our pick).

5. Keenan Allen, Colts

Priority: STRONG PPR ADD

Allen caught all 7 of his targets for 67 yards in the 42-7 loss in Jacksonville (box score). Josh Downs has requested a trade, and the deadline is November 10.

The Colts' offense isn't pretty right now, but targets are targets. If Indianapolis keeps selling, Allen could become an important PPR piece. Week 9: Cowboys at Colts (simulate it | our pick).

The Quarterback Situations That Could Change Your Season

Arizona: Gardner Minshew Takes Over

Coach Mike LaFleur named Minshew the starter on Monday. Rookie Carson Beck is now the backup, and Jacoby Brissett, who had started every game this season, drops to the emergency third quarterback.

Minshew earned it. He replaced Brissett late in the third quarter in Dallas and went 17 of 23 for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns as Arizona came back to win 33-30 in overtime.

Fantasy implications:

• Minshew is a streaming option, but his first start is in Seattle (simulate it | our pick).
• Marvin Harrison Jr. and the rest of the receivers need to be re-evaluated with the new quarterback.
• Allgeier's running could take pressure off Minshew.

I wouldn't assume this change automatically makes every Arizona receiver more valuable. Let's see the offense run with Minshew in charge first.

Baltimore: A Full Quarterback Emergency

Lamar Jackson is on injured reserve with a right thumb injury that needs surgery. Tyler Huntley has a toe injury and is ruled out for Thursday. So coach Jesse Minter will start undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano against Jacksonville on Thursday night.

Fagnano got thrown in during the 36-10 loss in Buffalo and went 10 of 21 for 91 yards with an interception (box score). He's also practicing with a brace on his ankle.

Fantasy implications:

• Don't treat Fagnano as a fantasy starter.
• Zay Flowers and the Baltimore receivers carry real risk. Flowers had 5 targets and zero catches in Buffalo.
• Baltimore's running game should matter more.
• The Jacksonville defense just became a must-look streamer (simulate it | our pick).

Indianapolis: Is Daniel Jones on Borrowed Time?

The Colts were embarrassed 42-7 in Jacksonville. Jones went 19 of 28 for 144 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions before he was pulled, and Anthony Richardson finished the game.

The benching questions started right away. But Shane Steichen confirmed Jones will start Week 9 against the Cowboys (simulate it | our pick).

My opinion: Indianapolis has to figure out its quarterback situation fast. That Jacksonville performance was unacceptable. Richardson is waiting, but he has to show he can run the offense.

Fantasy implications:

• Jones is hard to trust as a fantasy starter.
• Richardson is a speculative superflex stash.
• The Colts' receivers carry real uncertainty.
• Monitor the situation closely before setting lineups.

Tight Ends: Sleeper Adds

Tight end is still the most frustrating position in fantasy. A few names worth a look:

• Chig Okonkwo, Commanders: 13 catches for 161 yards on 17 targets over his last three games. He did lose a fumble Sunday. Week 9 vs. the Rams.
• Brenton Strange, Jaguars: 2 catches for 55 yards on 2 targets against the Colts. Thursday's game against Baltimore's rookie quarterback could be a friendly script.
• Mike Gesicki, Bengals: 4 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown in the overtime win over Tennessee. A streaming option against Atlanta.
• Gunnar Helm, Titans: 5 catches for 76 yards on 9 targets, but Tennessee is on bye in Week 9. Stash only.

My preference this week is Okonkwo because of his steady target share in Washington's offense.

Defenses: Week 9 Streaming Options

• Jaguars at Baltimore, Thursday: facing an undrafted rookie quarterback making his first start. (simulate it | our pick)
• Chiefs hosting the Jets. (simulate it | our pick)
• Lions at Miami. (simulate it | our pick)
• Packers at New England. (simulate it | our pick)
• Cowboys at Indianapolis. (simulate it | our pick)
• Bills at Minnesota, Monday night. (simulate it | our pick)

Jacksonville is my favorite of the group. Kansas City is interesting too, but the Jets just put up 33 on the Raiders, so don't assume it's a layup. Detroit deserves attention, though Miami has big-play potential. Always check your scoring system and what else is available before you add a defense.

DFS Value: Where I'm Looking

In daily fantasy, the edge usually isn't the guy who scored the most points last Sunday. It's the guy whose price hasn't caught up with his new role. Check the NFL DFS value board and the start/sit board for this week's prices.

Running backs

• Jonah Coleman: growing workload.
• Mike Washington Jr.: a possible changing of the guard in Las Vegas.
• Tyler Allgeier: injury-created opportunity in Arizona.
• Dylan Sampson: receiving work.

Wide receivers

• Adonai Mitchell: breakout potential.
• Antonio Williams: rising involvement in Washington.
• DeMario Douglas: recent production.
• Caleb Douglas: big-play upside.

Quarterbacks

• Gardner Minshew: a new starting job in Arizona.
• Malik Willis: 21 of 32 for 211 yards and 2 touchdowns against New England. Home against Detroit this week.
• J.J. McCarthy: the Giants come off their bye with a trip to Philadelphia (simulate it | our pick).

Don't chase last week's points without weighing price, projected touches, matchup and ownership. A back getting 20 touches at a fair price usually beats a receiver who caught one long touchdown on three targets.

FantasyDailies Week 9 Waiver Priority Board

Final FantasyDailies Take

This week's waiver wire is about opportunity.

Jonah Coleman and Mike Washington Jr. are two backs whose roles just changed in a big way. Tyler Allgeier could be the biggest winner of Arizona's injury situation. Adonai Mitchell is the receiver everybody will be talking about, and the question is whether one huge afternoon turns into a steady role. Antonio Williams is the one I quietly like most, because his involvement keeps growing.

Keep a close eye on the quarterback situations in Arizona, Baltimore and Indianapolis. And don't overlook Washington's backfield: Ekeler is getting more work, but Rachaad White is still leading that group in carries.

My advice? Don't blow your whole FAAB budget chasing last Sunday's box scores. Spend it on players whose opportunities are changing. The fantasy playoffs aren't won by the manager who recognizes yesterday's stars. They're won by the one who spots tomorrow's.

Before you set lineups, check the NFL injury report, the NFL player news, the NFL depth charts and the Week 9 matchups. Building a slip? Use the NFL Parlay Builder or the NFL Teaser Generator. Watch every game live in the NFL Game Zone, and catch FantasyDailies TV on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Talk waivers with us in the forum.

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